2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to redesignate the West Silver Valley, Idaho nonattainment area to attainment for the 2012 annual fine particulate matter (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). EPA is also proposing to approve a maintenance plan for the area demonstrating continued compliance with the NAAQS through 2031, which the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ) submitted along with the redesignation request on June 2, 2020, for inclusion into the Idaho State Implementation Plan (SIP). Additionally, EPA is proposing to approve the 2031 motor vehicle emissions budgets included in Idaho's maintenance plan for PM2.5, nitrogen oxides (NOX) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). EPA is proposing this action pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act).

This document contains proposed changes to the Form 5500 Annual Return/Report forms filed for employee pension and welfare benefit plans under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code (Code). The proposed form revisions primarily relate to statutory amendments to ERISA and the Code enacted as part of the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019 (SECURE Act). The Department of Labor (DOL), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) (collectively ``Agencies'') are also proposing certain additional changes intended to improve reporting on multiemployer defined benefit pension plan funding, update Form 5500 financial reporting to make the financial information collected on the Form 5500 more useful and usable, enhance the reporting of certain tax qualification and other compliance information by retirement plans, and, transfer to the DOL Form M-1 (Report for Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangements (MEWAs) and Certain Entities Claiming Exception (ECEs)) (Form M-1) participating employer information for multiple employer welfare arrangements that are required to file the Form M-1. The proposed revisions would affect employee pension and welfare benefit plans, plan sponsors, administrators, and service providers to plans subject to annual reporting requirements under ERISA and the Code.

This final rule amends the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's regulation on Allocation of Assets in Single-Employer Plans to prescribe interest assumptions under the asset allocation regulation for plans with valuation dates in the fourth quarter of 2021. These interest assumptions are used for valuing benefits under terminating single-employer plans and for other purposes.

This final rule sets forth the proposed Concrete Masonry Products Research, Education, and Promotion Order, as authorized by the Concrete Masonry Products Research, Education, and Promotion Act of 2018, which establishes a Concrete Masonry Products Board (Board) composed of industry members appointed by the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to develop and implement programs of research, education, and promotion in the concrete masonry products industry. This final rule: Defines the purpose of the program; provides for a national Board, outlining its basic structure and defining its responsibilities; establishes an assessment and provides for its collection; outlines program funding and its limits to program activities; establishes recordkeeping requirements; sets out the Department's authority to review and approve program activities; outlines the Department's enforcement authority; and sets up a referendum to determine whether the Department will rescind this Order.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is announcing a virtual public hearing to be held October 13, 2021, on its proposal for the ``Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards for Model Years 2024-2026 Passenger Cars and Light Trucks,'' which was signed on August 5, 2021, and published in the Federal Register on September 3, 2021. This hearing also allows the public to provide oral comments regarding the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement that accompanies the proposal. An additional session will be held on October 14, if necessary, to accommodate the number of people who sign up to provide oral comments. NHTSA is proposing to revise the corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards for passenger cars and light trucks for model years 2024 through 2026 to make the standards more stringent.

NMFS is transferring 113.8 metric tons (mt) of Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) quota from the Reserve category to the General category. This action is intended to account for an accrued overharvest of 53.8 mt from previous time-period subquotas and to provide further opportunities for General category fishermen to participate in the September General category fishery, based on consideration of the regulatory determination criteria regarding inseason adjustments. This action would affect Atlantic tunas General category (commercial) permitted vessels and Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Charter/Headboat permitted vessels with a commercial sale endorsement when fishing commercially for BFT.

The Coast Guard is establishing a special local regulation for certain waters of the Detroit River, Wyandotte, MI. This action is necessary to protect safety of life on navigable waters immediately prior to, during, and after the Roar on the River power boat race. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Detroit or a designated representative.

The State of Alabama (Alabama or State) has applied to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for final approval of revisions to its Underground Storage Tank Program (UST Program) under subtitle I of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Pursuant to RCRA, the EPA is taking direct final action, subject to public comment, to approve revisions to the UST Program. The EPA has reviewed Alabama's revisions and has determined that these revisions satisfy all requirements needed for approval. In addition, this action also codifies the EPA's approval of Alabama's revised UST Program and incorporates by reference those provisions of the State statutes and regulations that the EPA has determined meet the requirements for approval.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is issuing this interim final rule to amend its adjudication regulations regarding compensation for disabilities resulting from undiagnosed illnesses suffered by Veterans who served in the Persian Gulf War. This amendment is necessary to extend the presumptive period for qualifying chronic disabilities resulting from undiagnosed illnesses that must manifest to a compensable degree in order to establish entitlement to disability compensation benefits. The intended effect of this amendment is to provide consistency in VA adjudication policy, preserve certain rights afforded to Persian Gulf War Veterans and ensure fairness for current and future Persian Gulf War Veterans.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-09-04, which applies to all Austro Engine GmbH E4 and E4P model diesel piston engines. AD 2021-09-04 requires replacing a certain oil pump as well as the oil filter and engine oil. Since the FAA issued AD 2021-09-04, the FAA determined that the requirement to replace the oil pump should be limited to only Austro Engine E4 and E4P model diesel piston engines with a certain oil pump, identified by part number (P/N) and serial number (S/N), installed. This proposed AD would require replacing a certain oil pump, the oil filter, and the engine oil installed on Austro Engine GmbH E4 and E4P model diesel piston engines. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Model MBB-BK 117 D-2 helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of chafing marks on a wiring harness near the locking washer of the lateral control rod. This proposed AD would require an inspection of the wiring harness and the routing of the wiring harness and corrective actions if necessary, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is revising an earlier proposal for certain Leonardo S.p.a. Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters. This action revises the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) by expanding the required actions. This proposed AD would require various inspections of certain main rotor (MR) dampers, as specified in a European Aviation Safety Agency (now European Union Aviation Safety Agency) (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). This proposed AD would also require reducing the torque of the MR damper hub attachment bolts, installing a special washer, installing a certain part-numbered MR damper, and prohibit installing other part-numbered MR dampers. The FAA is proposing this airworthiness directive (AD) to address the unsafe condition on these products. Since these actions would impose an additional burden over those in the NPRM, the FAA is requesting comments on this SNPRM.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bell Textron Canada Limited Model 206, 206A, 206A-1, 206B, 206B-1, 206L, 206L-1, 206L-3, and 206L-4 helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of cracked or missing nuts on the tail rotor drive shaft (TRDS) disc pack (Thomas) couplings. This proposed AD would require removing certain nuts from service, installing newly designed nuts, and applying a specific torque and a torque stripe to each newly installed nut. This proposed AD would then require, after the installation of each newly designed nut, inspecting the torque and, depending on the inspection results, either applying a torque stripe or performing further inspections and removing certain parts from service. Finally, this proposed AD would prohibit installing any affected nut on any TRDS Thomas coupling. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a proposed rule to delete the Beckman Instruments site from the National Priorities List (NPL) and requests public comments on this proposed action. The NPL, promulgated pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended, is an appendix of the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). The EPA and the state, through its designated state agency, have determined that all appropriate response actions under CERCLA have been completed. However, this deletion does not preclude future actions under Superfund.

The U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'') is amending the test procedure for distribution transformers to revise and add definitions of certain terms, update provisions based on the latest versions of relevant industry testing standards, and to specify the basis for voluntary representations at additional per-unit loads and additional reference temperatures. The updates in this final rule will not significantly change the test procedure.

This regulation establishes a temporary exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of spinach defensin proteins SoD2, SoD2*, SoD7, and SoD8 in or on citrus when used as a plant- incorporated protectant in accordance with the terms of Experimental Use Permit (EUP) No. 88232-EUP-1. Southern Gardens Citrus Nursery, LLC., submitted a petition to EPA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), requesting the temporary tolerance exemption. This regulation eliminates the need to establish a maximum permissible level for residues of spinach defensin proteins SoD2, SoD2*, SoD7, and SoD8. The temporary tolerance exemption expires on May 31, 2025.

This document corrects the final rules portion of a Federal Register document published on August 23, 2016. That Federal Register document inadvertently removed existing rules requiring video programming distributors to exercise best efforts to obtain certifications of compliance from video programmers and requiring video programmers adopting Best Practices to certify to video programming distributors regarding adherence to Best Practices and to make those certifications widely available. That Federal Register document also prematurely amended rules to require video programmer registration and certification of compliance.

As required by an order issued by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, this action delays the effective date of the final rule (``Tobacco Products; Required Warnings for Cigarette Packages and Advertisements''), which published on March 18, 2020. The new effective date is October 11, 2022.

This final rule revises size requirements for Irish potatoes grown in certain designated counties of Idaho, and Malheur County, Oregon. The Idaho-Eastern Oregon Potato Committee (Committee) recommended this action to improve the handling and marketing of Idaho- Eastern Oregon potatoes and increase returns to producers.

This rule establishes, amends, suspends, or removes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPS) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure procedures (ODPs) for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, adding new obstacles, or changing air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), issues a final rule amending its existing regulations to modify the submission method of information collection request, Notice to Mediation Agency, (Agency Form F-7) and remove the form titled ``Notice to Mediation Agencies.''

This action amends Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Courtland Airport, Courtland, AL, by amending the name and geographical coordinates of Courtland Airport (formerly Industrial Airpark Airport).

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace at Greenville, TX, and establish Class E airspace at Terrell, TX. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of airspace reviews due to the decommissioning of the Caddo Mills non-directional beacon (NDB). The geographic coordinates of Caddo Mills Municipal Airport, Caddo Mill, TX, would also be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

The Federal Trade Commission (``FTC'' or ``Commission'') is issuing a final rule (``Final Rule'') to amend its Prescreen Opt-Out Notice Rule to correspond to changes made to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (``FCRA'') by the Dodd-Frank Act and to reinstate and amend a model prescreen opt-out notice.

The Farm Credit Administration (FCA, we, or our) is amending the its regulations governing standards of conduct (SOC) of directors and employees of Farm Credit System (System) institutions, excluding the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (Farmer Mac). The final rule requires each System institution to have or develop a Standards of Conduct Program based on core principles to put into effect ethical values as part of its corporate culture.